{"id":131446,"date":"2026-02-18T19:02:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T19:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/kenya-commissions-ksh3b-animal-feed-plant-to-boost-milk-production-livestock-exports\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T19:02:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T19:02:49","slug":"kenya-commissions-ksh3b-animal-feed-plant-to-boost-milk-production-livestock-exports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/kenya-commissions-ksh3b-animal-feed-plant-to-boost-milk-production-livestock-exports\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenya commissions Ksh3B animal feed plant to boost milk production, livestock exports"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kenya has commissioned one of the largest animal feed manufacturing facilities in Africa in a move aimed at\u00a0doubling national milk production, strengthening feed standards, and positioning the\u00a0 country as a regional livestock powerhouse.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ksh 3 billion De Heus Animal Nutrition factory in Athi River was officially commissioned by<\/p>\n

Speaking when he commissioned the Ksh 3 billion De Heus Animal Nutrition factory in Athi River, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, described the investment as part of a broader structural reform in Kenya\u2019s livestock economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is not just about commissioning a factory. It is about transforming Kenya\u2019s livestock economy,\u201d said CS Kagwe. \u201cWe will not achieve this by merely increasing the number of cows. We will achieve it by increasing productivity per cow. The future of Kenya\u2019s dairy and meat sector lies in efficiency, nutrition, genetics, animal health, and most critically, quality feed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kenya has set a clear target of doubling annual milk production from 5.2 billion litres to 10 billion litres while also positioning itself to become a net exporter of live animals and meat.<\/p>\n

Officials say this will require a shift from volume-based growth to productivity per animal, underpinned by science-based nutrition and stronger regulatory enforcement.<\/p>\n

Industry Under Scrutiny<\/strong><\/p>\n

The commissioning comes at a time when Kenya\u2019s feed industry faces increased scrutiny.<\/p>\n

Farmers have raised concerns over inconsistent feed formulations, fluctuating performance from batch to batch, and over-diluted products that compromise productivity. Feed accounts for up to 60\u201370 percent of livestock production costs, making quality and consistency critical to farm profitability.<\/p>\n

CS Kagwe announced that the government will strengthen enforcement and implement a feed quality index to protect farmers from substandard formulations. \u201cOver-diluted feed and substandard formulations designed to maximize profits at the expense of productivity will not be tolerated. Farmers must get value for their money,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He further emphasized that export markets demand strict standards and that Kenya\u2019s competitiveness in milk powder, meat, and live animal exports will depend heavily on feed quality and animal health.<\/p>\n

The Athi River facility represents a Ksh 3 billion investment with an annual production capacity of 240,000 metric tonnes.<\/p>\n\n

It integrates laboratory testing of raw materials, standardized recipe formulation, automated production systems, and batch-to-batch verification to ensure consistency.<\/p>\n

Unlike integrated agribusiness models, De Heus focuses exclusively on animal nutrition, positioning farmers as independent clients supported through knowledge transfer and technical services<\/p>\n

\u201cOur investment philosophy is not merely about building factories, but about building capabilities,\u201d said Co de Heus, Chairman of the Board. \u201cBy working closely with farmers and local partners, we share technical expertise, management insights and practical solutions, helping to unlock the full potential of Kenyan agriculture.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted that De Heus currently produces approximately 16 million tons of feed annually across more than 100 factories globally, bringing established quality control systems and technical expertise to the Kenyan market.<\/p>\n

Managing Director of De Heus Kenya, Wiehan Visagie, said the decision to build locally was driven by persistent industry gaps in feed reliability and farmer confidence, especially those dealing with cattle, poultry and pigs.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor too long, feed has felt like a gamble for many farmers,\u201d he said. \u201cOur commitment is to deliver consistent, batch-to-batch nutrition backed by laboratory testing and strict quality controls. But feed alone is not enough. We pair quality production with technical advisory services, nutrition planning, and on-farm support because real productivity happens when good feed meets good knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Visagie added that the factory represents more than infrastructure. \u201cThis is about rebuilding
\ntrust. Trust that farmers can depend on the quality of what they are buying, and trust that Kenya can build its own food systems using local raw materials.\u201d<\/p>\n

Linking feed security to national reform<\/strong><\/p>\n

Government reforms are running parallel to private-sector investment. Under the Land Commercialization Initiative, Kenya is unlocking government land for structured commercial production of yellow maize and soybeans, which are key ingredients in feed manufacturing, while integrating small-scale farmers through contract farming models<\/p>\n

In addition, the construction of 50 dams is expected to expand irrigation and reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture, while structured feed reserves are being planned to cushion farmers during droughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cFeed security must be localized. Kenya must reduce dependence on imports of key feed
\ningredients,\u201d CS Kagwe said.<\/p>\n

Jobs, local impact and regional ambition<\/strong><\/p>\n

The facility creates approximately 280 direct jobs, alongside additional indirect opportunities in logistics and supply chains<\/p>\n

In Machakos County, Governor Wavinya Ndeti described the plant as a boost to agro-industrial development and youth employment.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuality feed is the backbone of productive livestock,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen our poultry farmers get better feed, they get better yields. When our dairy farmers get better nutrition solutions, milk production increases.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands highlighted the broader partnership dimension of the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis new De Heus animal feed facility reflects confidence\u2014confidence in Kenyan farmers, confidence in the future of agriculture, and confidence in the economy of Kenya,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

With 35 outlets across Kenya and ambitions to serve regional markets including Uganda and Tanzania, the company positions the Athi River plant as part of a broader effort to establish Kenya as a regional hub for livestock feed production.<\/p>\n

A structural shift<\/strong><\/p>\n

Industry analysts note that Kenya\u2019s livestock sector contributes approximately 12 percent of GDP yet continues to face productivity gaps. The combined push for stricter feed standards, localized raw material production, laboratory-backed consistency, and farmer advisory support signals a structural shift toward efficiency and quality-driven growth.<\/p>\n

As CS Kagwe concluded during the commissioning, \u201cFacilities such as this create jobs, stimulate demand for raw materials, empower youth in agribusiness, strengthen rural economies, and build investor confidence in Kenya.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Athi River plant therefore represents not only a new factory, but a convergence of policy reform, private investment, and science-based production aimed at modernizing Kenya\u2019s livestock value chain and securing its role in regional agricultural trade.<\/p>\n

The post Kenya commissions Ksh3B animal feed plant to boost milk production, livestock exports<\/a> appeared first on KBC Digital<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kenya has commissioned one of the largest animal feed manufacturing facilities in Africa in a move aimed at\u00a0doubling national milk production, strengthening feed standards, and positioning the\u00a0 country as a regional livestock powerhouse. The Ksh 3 billion De Heus Animal Nutrition factory in Athi River was officially commissioned by Speaking when he commissioned the Ksh […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131446"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131446\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=131446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=131446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}